Andrew b



(No Model.)

A. B. LIPSEY. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

No. 244,266. Patented July 12,1881l N. PETERS. Pham-Lichogmprwr. Wmhingeon. D. C.

UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW B. LIPSEY, OF WEST HOBOKEN, NE W JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECTV AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, .IO WILLIAM BELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,266, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed September 8, 1880. (No model.)

with a retort of novel construction into which hydrocarbon liquid is introduced, of a superheater arranged therein and in which steam is superheated and then delivered into the retort, and an escape-pipe for conducting away the gas produced by the decomposition of the hydrocarbon liquid and steam.

The invention also consists in the combination, with a gas-washer, of a pipo through which the gas is discharged therefrom, a spraying device within said pipe for further washing the gas, and a valve of novel form for closing the end of the discharge-pipe within the washer to prevent the escape of gas and at the same sime permitting the water from the spraying device to be discharged from said pipe.

The invention also consists in a novel arrangement of an adjustable overilow for water from the washer.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lrepresents a longitudinal section of my improved apparatus 5 and Fig. 2 represents a cross-section thereof upon the dotted line as, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in both iigures.

A designates the retorts, which are here represented as two in number, arranged side by side in an inclosug-casing of brick-work, B.

B designates a furnace, by which the retorts are heated. From each side of the furnace B the products of combustion pass upon the outside of each retort through two openings, a, near the ends of the furnace into a horizontal flue, a', through which they pass from each end to the center, and thence upward into a second horizontal ilue, a2, through which they pass from the center toward each end, and

thence upward through an opening at each end into a horizontal flue, ai. The products 5o' of combustion pass through the iue c3 from each end toward the center, and thence through a central opening into the open space around the retorts, from whence they pass through openings in the top of a tlue, b, which communicates with a chimney, B2. The course ot' the products of combustion is clearly shown in the two figures by the dotted arrows.

The retorts A are both alike, each preferably comprising upward and downward pas- 6o sages, c c', and horizontal passages d d', the latter of which communicates with a discharge or delivery pipe, e.

C designates a steam-superheater arranged in each retort, into which steam is introduced through a pipe or governor, f, under control of a valve, f', and from which the super-heated steam is discharged into the retort through an oritlce,f2. (See Fig. l.) The arrangement of the superheater within the retort is very de- 7o sirable, inasmuch as it provides for superheating the steam with economy, and also because the superheater is kept out of direct contact with the llames, and is therefore not soon burned out. The liquid hydrocarbon is intro- 7 5 duced into each retort through a pipe, g, under control of a valve, g', from a tank, D, which may be at some distance from the retort, and is preferably below the surface of the ground, so as to lessen the danger of the contents tak- 8o ing iire.

D designates a tank situated above the highest point in the pipe g, and communicating with the tank D by a pipe, h, in which is a valve, h. rThe tank D is to be supplied with 8 5 water by any suitable means, and the valve Vh being opened, more or less water will pass downward to the tank D, displacing the liquid hydrocarbon therein and forcing it upward through the pipe g into the retorts. Prefera- 9o bly a quantity of some absorbent material, such as charcoal, is placed in the retort, as at t', below the pipe g, so that the heavier parts of the liquid hydrocarbon which are not immediately vaporized may be absorbed by the charcoal or other material, and by further heating may be entirely or almost entirely vaporized. The mingling of steam with the hydrocarbon vapor or gas is very advantageous, as its use keeps the apparatus clean internally, whereas where liquid hydrocarbon alone is used the apparatus soon becomes foul and dirty. The mingled hydrocarbon vapor or gas and steam pass upward through the passage c, downward through the passage c', thence through the passages d d and through the discharge or delivery pipe e, as represented by the full-line arrows to the washer E, represented asin the form of an inclosed box or tank partially filled with water. The combined gas or hydrocarbon vapor and steam entering the washer E together, the steam is condensed by the water, and the hydrocarbon vapor or gas passes upward through a pipe, F, through which the gas or vapor is conducted to any desirable reservoir or receiver.

In order to more thoroughly wash the gas or vapor even after the steam is separated therefrom, I place in the delivery-pipe F a spraying device, here shown as consisting of a perforated pipe, j, which may be supplied with water from any available source. When such a spraying device is employed in the pipe F it is desirable to close the pipe to prevent the escape of gas without preventing the discharging of the water produced by the sprayin g device from the pipe. To ei'ect this I employ a cup-shaped valve, G, adapted to it over the end of the pipe F, and having an annular socket or recess, k, into which the end ot' the pipe its, thereby forming a water-joint. The said valve is perforated through its center and has attached to it a pipe, Z, through which the water overliowing from the annular recess 7c runs into the washer. The valve Gis adapted no to be operated by a rod, on, passing through a stuffing-box, n, in the bottom of the washer and connected to a lever, o.

In order to maintain the level of the water in the washer at any desired point above the end of the discharge-pipe e through which the vapor and steam reach the washer, I employ a siphon, p, one leg of which passes up through the two stufng-boxes q to a handle, r, with which it is connected, and is provided inside the washer with an opening, s,in the pipe. By raising or lowering the siphon the level of the water in the washer may be regulated as desired.

By my invention I provide a gas apparatus of very simple construction in which the retorts do not become foul and dirty, and which is very easily regulated and operated.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The retort A, containing the steam-superheater C, and constructed with upright passages c of, horizontal passages d d', and a delivery-pipe, e, all substantially as specified.

'2. rIhe combination in a gas apparatus, of a Washer, a delivery-pipe extending therefrom, a spraying device contained in said pipe, and a cup-shaped valve having an annular recess for the reception of the pipe, forming a waterjoint, and a central opening for the discharge of water from said annular recess, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the washerE, the delivery-pipe F, the spraying device j, the cupshaped valve G, constructed with annular recess 7c and pipe l, and a rod, fm, and lever o, for operatingsaid valve, substantially as specilied.

4. The combination of the washer E, the delivery-pipe F, the spraying device j, contained therein, and the adjustable overflow-siphon p, with lever i' for operating it, substantially as specified.

ANDREW B. LIPSEY.

Witnesses:

T. J. KEANE, FREDK. HAYNEs. 

